The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-30
EX-SENATOR CoNKLING.
Judge Belford Throws Some Light or
His Quarrel With President Garfield

experiences at the time of the struggle be-
tween the stalwart and the half breed ele-
ments of the Republican party, says Frank
G. Carpenter, the Washington correspon-
dent, in a recent Denver letter. Bedford
was at that time one of the leading public
men of Washington. His eloquence ON the
floor of Congress had made him reputa-
ton as one of the brightest if not the
brightest, of the Western members of the
Lower House, and he was close in the coun-
ellis of the Republican leaders, Judge
Bedford called upon Garfield at Mentor,
shortly after his election and urged upon
him the appointment of Gov Routt as
Postmaster General, and presented the
claims of the Western States in his be-
half. Senator Hill, Teller, and one or two
other Colorado men went with him, and
the party dined with Garfield and rode with
him in the evening to Cleveland in the ca
boose of a freight train. During this ride
Garfield suddenly turned to Bedford and
said;
what is the matter with Conklingm
Judge Bedford replied that he had heard
no talk in political circles as to any trouble
between him and Conkling, and that
he was not prepared to answer his ques-
ton.
Gen. Garfield then asked Judge Bel
ford to investigate the matter upon his
know.
This Belford promised to do anddid He
tells me this is the first mixing he had re-
ceived as to the existence of any trouble be-
tween Garfield and Conkling.
"How about your talk with Conklingp'
81 had an interview with Conklng upon
my return to Washington. Senator Teller
arranged the meeting, and the interview
lasted for an hour Upon my stating that
Garfield though the party should harmon
ious, Senator Conkling said:
II am not aware that the party is inhar-
monious We have carried New York. Penn
sylvania, and Indiana, and Gen. Garfield
has been elected President of the United
States. I can not imagine discord in an
army so victorious as ours has been. If
there is to be any discord it will be because
Gen. Garfield considers the objections of
mere omnibus load of politicians of greater
weight than the opinion of the whole party
itself.
''These objectors," he went on, ''re-
mind me of the grasshoppers in the field
as described by Edmund Burke: Their
buzz fills the whole land, while the great
herds Craze on in peace and contentment.'
There are not enough of these malcon-
tents to justify letters of administration be-
ing taken out on their whole political es-
tate" 80
Senator Conkling then said that he
thought Garfields administration would be
a successful one, and he would labor to
make it so. There could be no conflict be-
tween them unless Mr.. Garfield precipi-
tated it, He had spent three years in con
fict with THAT man Hayes and if he was
to have trouble with Garfield there would
be no comfort to him in public life. He
would cheerfully accept Garfield's appoint
ments unless it was plain that they were
made with a view to war upon his (ConlS-
ling's) friends, and he was sorry for the
spirit which, according to Gov. Foster,
prevailed in respect to the next Senator
from New York, whom. he understood, the
President wanted elected as opposed to
him."
Ibid Cqnkling believe thisg'
''He said he did not" replied Judge
Bedford, land he furthermore said he
had no objection to Blaine going into
the Cabinet. He had no demands upon
the President, thought he did think New
York should have the Secretary of the
Treasury.
LAS we ended the talk Senator Conkling
emphatically said: 'One thing l can as
sure you, if there is any quarrel between
President Garfield and myself it will be of
his making. 1 am tired of conflicts,
and | have only gone into them in the
past because they have been forced upon
me-
II wrote the substance of this talk, :" COM
tinued Judge Bedford. ito Gen. Garfield at
Mentor, and it was shortly after this that
Conkling was to meet him there What
was the result of the conference then held
do not know. | know that this report of our
talk is correct for joJted it down at the
time, and Conkling's part of it was once
published substantially as | have given it
to you. 1t was never contradicted nor ques-
honed.o
''Do you think Conklng resigned with
view of being re-electedF'
''No," replied Judge Bedford, 81 do not,
am sure that he was anxious to get out of
public life, and that his circumstances were
such that he needed to do So He was a scrll-
pulously honest man, and his salary as Sena-
tor was not large enough to supply his wants.
At the bar he can make from ten to twenty
times as much per year with half the vexa-
tom
"Have you ever talked with him upon his
withdrawal from public lifeg"
Yes met2him shortly after his resig-
nation at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and
We breakfasted together. During the meal
asked Cohkling: Senator, how, in the
name of God, did you come to commit
such blunder as you did in your resigna-
tionl'
Senator Conkling replied: Icommitted
no blunder, and you are hardly justified in
using that word. You recollect the CONVEX
sation we had during my last days in the
Senate, when told you emphatically that
desired to have no quarrel with Garfield or
his administration, and that l was anxious
for peace and quiet Senator Conkling
then went on to say that under the condi-
tons which then existed he clearly saw that
it was impossible for him to continue longer
in public life; that there was only one way
to save himself from financial wreck and
ruin, and that was TO go back to his office,
to open up the shutters, and to nail on the
door the sign:
ROSCOE CONKLING.
Attorney at Law.
Il felt said he, that by pursuing this
course could escape a vast deal of politi-
cal ANNOYANCE, and might be better able
to render substantial aid to my friends.
When you say committed a blunder you
only drop into that common misjudgment
that springs from the want of know
ledge as TO the facts bearing upon the sub
ject'
II have not" concluded Judge Bel
ford, 'seen Conkling from that time to
this. -
did you ever have any talk with Presi-
dent Garfield after Conkling's resigna-
tionp
mo; not upon the Conking matter
though | frequently talked with him on
lnlany other subjects. One thing know,
however and that is that had not Garfield